Pominion or a Lordſhip over Chrift's Heritage, 2 Cor. 1. 24+ 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3- according to his ſingular and eminent Call to de a Minifter and a Witneſs, As 26. 16. as he doth elſewhere make mention of the Miniſter of God, 2 Cor. 6. 4.. 1 Theſſ. 3+ 2+ of the XN. 7. Goſpel, Word, Reconciliation, As 6. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 13, 19. and 3. 6 Fph. 3. 7. of Jeſus Chrift and of the Lord, Rom. 15. $. 1 COr. fe Is Eph. 6. 17. 1 Tim. 4; 6. ſo he doth: here by reaſon of the union *twixt the Head and the Body, own Himſelf ro be conſtituted a Minifter of the Church (which ſome of a lower Rank, like not now to be called.) * And. that by divine vouchſafement and commandment being called from per- ſecution of the Church to this Miniſtry, 4s 9. 15, 16. I Cor. 4, 1. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Eph. 1. 10. Yea and allo for them at Co- J.fſ- who being of the Gentzles were in his commilſon, according to the Gift of the Grace of God given to him, Eph. 3. 7. u Fully ro preach the word of God m—_ them, as well as to the Romar's and others, Rom. 15. 19- and fo to fulfil the Prophecy, Zech. 2. 11. for the calling of the Gentiles by the promulgation
COLOSSIANS.
d Here he ſhews that the ſubje& of his and other Mi": preaching was Chriſt (as he had Keg deſcrib'd him) Hite alone hope of glory was to be had, As 4. 12. 1 Cor. 2. 2. G 1 5. 4+ 1 Fobn 1.3. e The manner of it was by admoniſhing _ inſtrugting all, in all the Chriftian wiſdom that Chriſt requir- ed, that they might avoid fin and do their duty, he means gb collettively, not diftributively of the generals of each not exc one of thoſe generals, excluding none from the communion of {© great a Benefit, having no acception of Nations or Perſons making no exception of any condition, but inviting all Men t, Chriſt, holding forth this Light of the Goſpel to whoſoer:x would receive it, whiles God did vouchſafe lite and ftrength ty them, in the moſt taking way, As 20. 21, 27, 31. Rom, 1, I4, 15, 16, I Tim. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 2.24. & 2. 16: & 4. 2. Tit, 1, c f And the end and aim he and others of his mind had in Preack- ing of this matter in ſuch a manner was the ſame with Chris v.22. to put them into ſuch an eftate by their labours that the; might through Chriſt, appear at a Throne of Grace, withou:
of the Goſpel amongft them, 4s 22. 21. Rom. I. 5.3% Is 13, x Tim. 2. 7. and ſo fulfilling God's word, by fully expounding
the whole Doctrin of Salvation among them, and promoting of
it to the end of his Life.
26 Even the myſtery which hath been hid from ages, ahd from generations w, but now is made ma- nifeſt to his ſints x.
# Viz, That holy ſecret of godlineſs, chap. 2. 2, 3. & 4. 3» Mat. 13. 11. Rome 16. 25, 26, 1 Cor. 2. 7. Eph:ſ. 3. 3, 4, 6, 8, 10. See 1 Tim. 3. 16. Rev. 14. 6. which doth not confift in | cn Elements, Gal. 4. 9. or vain Speculations, which theſe Co! rms are caution'd to avoid, chip. 2. 8. however varniſhed, but is to them who are ſaved, the-power of God, Rom. 1. 16. 1 C'r« 1. 18, 19. and the wiſdom of God, 1 Cor. 1. 24. which lay hid in God before the World, 1 Cor. 2. 7. 2 Tim. I. 9. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 20. yea and after God had to our firſt Parents, and ſo to his People the Fews given ſome glympſe of this myſtery, which yet the Genriles of ſeveral Ages were 32norant of, and many of the Fems, yea the moſt knowing of them, did not for many Generations, know that the G-ztiles without Circumciſion, Ofc, were to, be admitted into the Church, Affs 10, 28. the Prophets vere very inquintive to know the meaning of it, but yet they alſo were much in the dark, 1 Cor. 2. 9. 1 7-t. 1. 1x. yea the Angels did not know this hidden Myſtery, till revealed by the Church, Fph. 1. 10. x But now God that revealeth Secrets, Dan. 2. 28. hath opened his boſom Counſel about this Affair moſt clearly, ſo that his Glory by thoſe that really fear him, may be ſeen with open Face as in a Glaſs through Chriſt, Mar. 13. 11. Mark 4. 11. Fohn 8. 47. and 15+ 15. As 16. 14. 1 Cor. 2. 10, 16. 2 Cor. 3. 18. all neceſſary to Salvation being made conſpicuous and
clear to them, 1 Pet. 2. 9.
27 * To whom God would make known z what is * the riches of the glory of this myſtery among the Gentiles a, which is Chriſt | in you b the hope of glory c.
2 He refers the Manifeſtation pnrely to God's good Will and Pleaſure (as Chriſt himſelf doth, Mat. 11. 26, 27. Luke 10. 21.) ſo in the like caſe, Rom. 9 18. that having mention'd Sainre, none might conceit it was for foreſeen Faith, but the Coloſſians might value their Privilege, reverently receive that Grace which was not given to all: In ſhort, to reftrain Curioſity, why God would not.do it otherwiſ> or ſooner, he cuts the knots of all Queſtions, only by ſignifying his ſovereign Pleaſure, Ze would make it known to them elſewhere, Eph. 1. 9g. This Myſtery of his will according to his good pleaſure, Eph 1. 9. which was not to be touched till he thought meet to make it known. a Some refer the glory to myſtery as glorious myſtery, becauſe it lets forth divine glory and promiſeth it to Believers, Luke 2. 14. others, and the moſt, rather to Rzches, and that either as its Epither (v. 11.) the glorious Riches of this myſtery, or noting the Subject for Salvation of the Church among the Gentiles, Eph. 1. 18 & 3. 7,3. its uſual with the Apoſtle to uſe the word Riches to ſet forth abundance, Rom. 2. 4. & 11. 33. Eph. 1. 7. here for the praiſe of the Goſpel he would ſignifie a very great and moſt abundant £lory far ſurpaſſing any former Miniftration, 2 Cor. 3. 8, 18. In the Law thoſe Riches (Eph. 2. 7.) were not only imperfe&ly and obſcurely diſcovered, but ſcatteredly with broken Beams, as the Sun in Water when the Water is diſturbed ; one Attribute ſhining out in one work, another in another, but now the har- mony of the divine Attributes in Man's redemption ſhines out moſt fully, clearly and gloriouſly contratted in Chrift who is the Ob- jet and Revealer of the myſtery by his Spirit, the glory whereof